Antislipping device.



W. J. HOWARD.

AVNTISLIPPING DEVICE. APPLICATION EILED Jun 1. 1915.

1,178,399. Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

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WAYLAND J'. HOWARD, OF ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS,

ANTISLIPPING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. a, 1916.

Application filed July 7, 1915. Serial No. 38,509.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WAYLAND J. HowAno, a citizen of the United States,residing at Athol, in the county of \Vorcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in AntislippingDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an anti-slipping device of the removal typewhich may be easily and quickly applied to a shoe when the occasionrequires.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an anti-slippingdevice of this character which is constructed in such a manner as toprovide a shoe encircling loop, which may be positioned beneath the soleof the shoe, and upon the vamp thereof, by positioning the toe of theshoe within the loop and moving the shoe in one direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anti-slipping devicehaving a flexible element formed of annular link sections adapted to bepositioned beneath the sole of a shoe and maintained in frictionalengagementtherewith by a resilient tubular member connected with the endlink sections, and engageable with the vamp of the shoe.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the linkscomprisin the flexible element which is engaged wit the sole of theshoe, and which are loosely connected together, with stop shoulders,which engage with the side walls of the links and limit the turningmovement of the links when in contact with an uneven surface while theflexible element is under tension.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novelcombination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

T he preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, but no restriction is necessarily made to theprecise details of construction therein shown, as changes, alterations,and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to whenso desired.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is an end elevation of the front portion of theshoe showing the improved cleat secured thereto. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the cleat removed from the shoe. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of several of the link sections of the flexible member,which is engageable with the sole of the shoe.

. Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawing.

The numeral 1 designates the front portion of the shoe to which thedevice is applied which is of the usual well-known type, and 2 theanti-slipping device, which, comprises a resilient tubular member 3 anda flexible member 4.- connected thereto. The tubular member 3 in thisinstance, is a coiled contractile spring which has the end thereofprovided with projecting eyes 5.

The flexible memberlis formed of annular link sections which are looselyconnected together and provided upon the peripheral edges thereof withstop shoulders 6 which serve to limit any rotativc movement of the linksdue to frictional contact with an uneven surface when the flexibleelement is under tension. The end links of the flexible member 4 areconnected with the eyes 5 on the tubular member in any suitable mannerwhich would enable the flexible member to communicate movement to thetubular member when the flexible member is rotated beneath the sole ofthe shoe.

When it is desired to apply the anti-slipping device to a shoe the toeof the Shoe is disposed within the loop formed by the flexible memberand the tubularmember, with the flexible member beneath the toe of theshoe. With the anti-slipping device in this position and the weight ofthe wearer of the shoe disposed upon the greater number of links in theflexible member, the shoe is moved in a forward direction which causesthe stop shoulders on the links to abut against the peripheral edges ofthe links, while the resilient tubular member 3 exerts a tension uponthe flexible element a and enables the same to act in the manner to aflexible shaft and cause the tubular member to be rotated over the vampof the shoe in a direction opposite to that in which the shoe is beingmoved, thus securing the antislipping device to the shoe.

It will, of course, be understood that the anti-slipping device may beremoved from the shoe in the reverse manner to that described forapplying the same to the shoe, and that when the links of the flexibleelement are frictionally engaged with the sole of the shoe, andsubjected to a tension under the influence of the tubular member, thestop Sill!) shoulders upon the links,

which allow only a partial rotation of the links when contacting with anuneven surface, and which cooperate with the tubular member 3 inenabling the flexible member to serve as a flexible shaft when it isdesired to release the anti-slipping device from the foot of the wearer,provide an eflicient means for preventing the wearer of the shoe fromslipping upon a slippery surface.

From the foregoing statements it can be clearly seen that ananti-slipping device has been provided which may be quickly applied oreasily detached from shoes of various widths.

From the foregoing statements taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, it is at once apparent that an anti-slip ing device has beenprovided which is simp e in construction, inexpensive of manufacture andhighly efficient in use.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is 1. Incombination with a shoe, a flexible member adapted to be disposedbeneath the toe of the shoe, -and a tubular member formed of resilientmaterial. and having the ends thereof engaged with the end of theflexible member whereby upon rotation of with the the flexible memberbeneath the toe and sole of the shoe the tubular member may be rlolledto position upon the vamp of the S 0e.

2. In an anti-slipping device, a flexible member comprising annularlinks loosely connected for disposition beneath the sole of a shoe, anda contractile spring engaged end links of the flexible member andadapted to cause the said flexible member to frictionally engage withthe sole of a shoe.

' 3. In an anti-slipping device, annular links loosely connected toprovide a flexible member for disposition beneath the sole of a shoe, aresilient member for disposition upon the vamp of a shoe and having itsends connected with the end links of the flexible member, and shouldersformed on the peripheral edges of said links adapted to limit themovement of said links when contacting with an uneven surface.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WAYLAND J. HOWARD.

Witnesses:

HENRY H. Coomnen, LILLA A. HOWARD.

